NATURE TRAIL IN CIUDAD RODRIGO

It gets its name because this was the place where pig intestines were washed in preparation for making chorizo. The fountain was rebuilt in the 18th century by the governor of Ciudad Rodrigo, as the commemorative inscription states. The work was completed in 1743. According to tradition, before the fountain was built, the site was a cave inhabited by goblins and witches—a legend used to scare children back then.

A fountain that collects water from a spring and channels it to this spot. These waters were believed to have medicinal properties, which is why many sick and convalescing people came here in the hope of regaining their lost health. It is situated in a green setting next to the Águeda River, in the area known as “Los Cañitos,” which serves as the descent to the river. Given the existing elevation difference, a stone wall with buttresses has been constructed. There are ramps resembling stairs to navigate the slopes, and in the final section, wrought-iron walkways and stairs have been built to reach the riverbank.

The Águeda River is the only permanent watercourse in the Ciudad Rodrigo region; as it flows through the city, it irrigates the fertile Mirobrigense floodplain, where vegetables have long been grown in small garden plots. Today, it is an ideal area for various sports and recreational activities along the river, especially in the areas of La Pesquera and El Picón. The former La Concha Flour Mill, which in recent years has been repurposed as a social and cultural center, is an example of how the river has always been a source of energy. Trees such as alders, ash trees, and poplars line the banks of the Águeda River, which is home to birds such as little egrets, great egrets, mallards, grey wagtails, and kingfishers… Along with less common species such as spoonbills and little bitterns. In addition, various types of amphibians, reptiles, and mammals—such as otters—coexist here, along with fish such as barbel and pike.

La Moretona is a natural area within the city that has recently been developed for the use and enjoyment of both Mirobriga residents and visitors from out of town; it is another of the city’s major green spaces, also located on the banks of the Águeda River. One of its main attractions is the old mill that has been converted into a restaurant.